Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The people who live in Mathews County have been fortunate to have had sheriffs who have been dedicated to the community and the profession. Danny Howlett is no exception to those professionals who have served admirably.

I am not a resident of Mathews County; however, I lived in Mathews most of my life. I have known Danny all his life. He has always been involved in church and community functions. Because of this, it was no surprise to me when he first became a candidate for the office of sheriff for Mathews County. I spent four decades as a law enforcement practitioner, so I found it consistent that Danny’s method of law enforcement was all, or at least in part, Community Oriented Policing.

I believe the duties of the sheriff in Mathews are a real test to one’s attention to detail, ability to sustain self and continue to be all that the community expects, be a problem solver, and enforce the law without prejudice. Sheriff Danny Howlett conti...